During activities to mark the celebrations of World Clubfoot Day in Cameroon, it was disclosed that more than 200,000 newborns are affected with the Clubfoot deformity yearly.

Parents have been advised to be vigilant and if any clubfoot deformity is detected in their child, they should be taken to SAPOCAH Bafut, Banso Baptist Hospital or the Baptist Hospital in Mutengene, where there are trained physiotherapists.

The celebrations took place at the Mbingo Baptist Hospital, within the perspective of the Cameroon Clubfoot Care Project which was initiated in 2014 by the Cameroon Baptist Convention CBC Health Services to ensure that children born with clubfoot deformity are treated in specialised and recognized centres.

Clubfoot is a foot deformity where a child is born with the foot or feet twisted inwards. It is the most common musculoskeletal birth deformity affecting 200,000 newborn children each year in 80 percent of developing countries.

Representing the Director of the CBC Health Services, George Ndosak said there are hundreds and thousands of children and young adults who are living with this condition worldwide. He said June 3 was chosen as World Clubfoot Day to commemorate the birthday of Dr. Ignacio Ponseti, the developer of the Ponseti Method used today in treating the clubfoot deformity.

The goal of World Clubfoot Day was to raise awareness about the disability and its prevention using the Ponseti Method, a non-surgical treatment that includes gentle manipulation of the feet followed by the application of plaster casts and temporary bracing.

The Senior Administrator of Mbingo Baptist Hospital, Richard NjiNken said sensitisation of parents should be a priority. Reasons being that “most people are ignorant of these services; some are reluctant and unwilling to go for services because the child is not feeling any pains in the clubfoot”.

There are also cultural beliefs such as myths and witchcraft where some people erroneously believe that only traditional doctors or prayers can correct deformities.

Other barriers that prevent children from having access to these special clubfoot clinics include; lack of paternal support and delivery of children in villages that are very remote.

The Mayor of Belo Council, Bernard Tosam, thanked CBC Health Services for putting smiles on the faces of children with clubfoot deformity. The CBC Health Services Department of Clubfoot Clinic started in 2014 and today counts some 130 clubfoot cases it has treated.